A blanket of tension rested upon the forest as Kayami checked her sack for all her items. She looked up at the sun slowly climbing the sky and squinted.
"Are you sure you have to go? What if you get hurt?"
Kayami turned around and smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, Inuyasha. I'm a priestess, I was trained for this."
"How will I know if you are safe?"
"I will send you a message. Take care of Sora while I'm gone, okay?" Inuyasha nodded. His brows furrowed and he caressed her cheek. His hand went from her cheek to her chin, to her throat, where it rested. He touched her necklace, and fingered the chain.
"Who gave you this?" he asked softly, trying to distract his mind from the thought of her having to leave soon.
"Lady Kikyo. She said the Great Priestess instructed her to give it to me."
"Kayami, I want you to have this," Kikyo said, taking out a necklace from inside her hakama.
"Kikyo… I could never. I have no right to take it from you," Kayami said firmly.
Kikyo smiled and opened Kayami's palm. She placed the necklace into Kayami's palm and closed her fingers over it. "The Great Priestess gave it to me for safe-keeping, in hopes that it would one day be returned to its rightful owner."
"I… I don't understand," Kayami said softly, staring at the necklace in her hand. It pulsed with a steady violet light.
"She came to me… in a dream. She said that fate had chosen the owner for the necklace. She saw your hidden power and told me that it was meant for you," Kikyo replied simply.
"Why was it meant for me, and not you, Kikyo? Surely, you are the greater priestess. I don't understand. Why did the Great Priestess choose me?" Kayami asked.
Kikyo smiled. "You will receive your answers in time. For now you must be patient."
Kayami tilted her head slightly. "You don't know the purpose of the necklace either."
"Even the Great Priestess herself does not know," Kikyo said softly. "She said that when the time came, everything will be revealed as it should."
It was a small, teardrop-shaped crystal pendant. A dark violet sapphire embedded in the crystal gave off a steady violet glow. She had never seen a sapphire of that color before. Yet, she knew it was a sapphire and not an amethyst. The crystal rested on a thin silver chain. It nestled comfortably around her neck, giving her comfort and warmth.
"Remember the promise we made to Mother and Father?" Inuyasha asked.
Kayami looked into his eyes and replied softly, "How could I forget?"
"Inuyasha! Kayami! Come here, please. I have something important to tell both of you, so listen carefully," Lady Shinju started calmly. "Lord Nishu and I have decided that the two of you are to marry when Kayami turns sixteen."
"Me? Get married?" Inuyasha protested.
Lady Shinju smiled. "You'll understand when you're older. For now, just promise me."
"Yes, Mother," Inuyasha replied obediently.
Kayami giggled and pointed at Inuyasha. "You have to get married! You have to get married!" she teased.
"This goes for you too, Kayami. I want you and Inuyasha to get married when you turn sixteen. Promise?"
"I promise." Kayami said, making a face. "Inuyasha, come on, let's go play!"
Inuyasha handed her a small package. She opened it and gasped. It was Lady Shinju's journal. Her eyes welled up with tears as she fingered the embroidery of the journal. On the front, engraved in gold lettering, was "Within Your Heart," the saying told to her repeatedly as a child.
"I know how much it meant to you. And I'm sure she wanted you to have it," Inuyasha said softly, running his fingers through her hair.
Kayami wiped the tears from her eyes and looked into his eyes. He cupped her face in his hands and leaned forward. She closed her eyes and tilted her chin upwards as their lips met in a final, sweet kiss. She smiled sadly as they parted and pretended to busy herself with fixing Sora's saddle so Inuyasha wouldn't see that the tears falling down her face. He wrapped his arms around her and whispered into her ear, "I love you."
She turned her head so she could look at him. She whispered in reply, "I love you, too."
Inuyasha watched sadly as Kayami mounted Sorano, her winged horse, who unfurled her wings, and soared off into the sky. He looked off into the sky long after she has disappeared from his sight before heading back to the inner part of the forest.
Kayami dismounted at a mountain village, refusing to take Sorano any further. She continued on foot through the fields to the forest. Kayami used her sword and cut her way through the dense forest, stopping to rest when she came upon a clearing. It was well kept and the trees were neatly trimmed. There were no signs of weeds or fallen leaves, although winter would be upon them in a matter of months.
A small branch caught her wary eye. It lazily stuck out of the otherwise neatly trimmed trees. She didn't touch it, for the trunk it was attached to had demonic markings. Uneasy, she grabbed her things, and attempted to cut through the neatly kept trees. She swung her blade and the branch snapped, but her sword bounced back at her. She dodged the swinging blade just in time, before it swung at her again. Quickly, Kayami cast a spell around her. As a defensive wall came up and the sword was lifeless once more, falling to the ground as though it never flew in the first place.
Kayami picked up the fallen branch and carefully examined its design. She could feel a powerful source of magic coming from it. She thrust her sword in the middle of the trees. It bounced back at her and she realized there was a powerful magical barrier. Kayami sheathed her sword and used her magic to test the barrier's strength. She gathered magic in the palm of her hand, bracing herself for the impact. She unleashed it, slamming it into the forest, and squeezed her eyes shut. Her mind screamed for freedom as the light of her magic surrounded her. Her mind went blank as she felt her life force leave her body. When it stopped, she lost consciousness and all was still.
Kayami opened her eyes and tried to sit up. A wave of dizziness swept over her and she closed her eyes until her mind cleared. When her temples stopped throbbing, she gathered her things and stood up. A forceful wind caught her off guard and pushed her down. She continued walking blindly into it. The wind lashed at her hair, her clothes, and her face. She shuddered. The wind was another obstacle to prevent visitors from entering, conjured up by magic. Suddenly, a thick white fog enveloped her, and the wind fell still and silent. Kayami ventured on for an hour before realizing she was lost. The fog thickened and covered her like a thick wet blanket. She continued blindly, guided by her magic and her other senses.Her heart thudded with terror. She sensed something behind her, but before she could unsheathe her sword, she was on her back, unconscious. Sesshomaru appeared out of the trees, and picked her up.
He flew to his castle, Kayami in his arms. She moaned and her eyes fluttered open. Sesshomaru grinned evilly at her, chuckling at the horror in her eyes. His cold demon eyes sparkled as a sinister scheme formed in his mind.